The Animal Communication Podcast

In our final episode of Season 1, we are joined by Sarah A. Bowen, an animal chaplain and a co-founder of Compassion Consortium―the first interfaith, interspiritual, and interspecies community for people who care about and advocate for animals and the planet―where she leads the Animal Chaplaincy Training program. She also companions animals through death, creates sacred memorial rituals, counsels humans grieving animal loss, and advocates for exploited and endangered species in both religious and secular contexts. An RNS Vatican News Reporter featured her response to Pope Francis’s suggestion that having pets is selfish. 

An award-winning author, her latest book is Sacred Sendoffs: An Animal Chaplain’s Advice for Surviving Animal Loss, Making Life Meaningful, & Trying to Heal the Planet  (Monkfish Publishing). A columnist on animal/human relationships for Spirituality & Health magazine, Bowen’s work has also appeared in Parabola, Tricycle, Religion Dispatches, Psychology Today, and Animal Culture Magazine,

​​A passionate speaker and teacher, Bowen has presented for the United Nations World Interfaith Harmony Week, Parliament of the World’s Religions, Spiritual Directors International, Best Friends National Conference, and the Chaplaincy Innovation Lab.

Sarah is also an academic dean at One Spirit Interfaith Seminary, where she encourages emerging clergy to align their spiritual values with animal and planetary welfare. 

Sarah holds a BA in Human Ecology from Michigan State University, MA in Religious Studies from Chicago Theological Seminary, was ordained through One Spirit Interfaith Seminary, completed Emerson Theological's Passmore Animal Chaplain Program, and is joyfully engaged in postgraduate research in Humane Religious Studies and Anthrozoology.

You can find her:

Instagram @modernreverend

Website: https://www.sacredsendoffs.com/

And in so many other places! 

Do YOU want to be an animal communicator? Email us at [email protected] and ask to be alerted to the Black Friday deals our teacher, Danielle MacKinnon, will be announcing later this week!

Meet the hosts-

Julie Hirt is a Certified Soul Level Animal Communicator®, Certified Heart Animal Soul Professional Communicator, Certified Soul Level Intuitive Coach® and Certified Spirit Animal Sacred Alchemy Practitioner. She writes the column “Trust the Animals” on Substack and is a teaching assistant for the Danielle MacKinnon School. Julie is also the Social Media Director for The Animal Communication Collective®. Find out more about her at her website: https://www.juliehirt-intuitive.com/

Karen Dendy Smith is a Soul Level Animal Communicator®, Soul Level Intuitive Coach®, Pangu Shengong (qigong) Instructor and Energy Healer. She is an End-of-life Companion Animal Doula through the UVM certificate program and a teaching assistant for the Danielle MacKinnon School. She is also on the board of NicaLove Animal Rescue and the Founder and a Director of The Animal Communication Collective®. Find out more about her at her website: https://www.karendendysmith.com/

Meredith Tollison is a Soul Level Animal Communicator®, Soul Level Intuitive Coach®, Let Animals Lead® Animal Reiki Practitioner, and certified dog trainer with a focus on behavior modification and positive reinforcement. She is also a Director of The Animal Communication Collective®. Find out more about her at her website: https://www.meredithtollison.com/

You can also learn more about podcast news, your hosts and upcoming events at https://www.theanimalcommunicationpodcast.com/. And to learn more about the fundraising work Karen, Meredith and Julie do with The Animal Communication Collective, please visit https://www.animalcommunicationcollective.com/.

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One of the top questions people ask their pets in Soul Level Animal Communication® readings Julie, Meredith and Karen do is “What was your life like before I adopted you?” The answers - if your animal chooses to respond - are interesting, supportive and inspirational. And, you’ll even be surprised to learn about who really found whom. 

To ask questions of our hosts, you can use the Open Mic feature in the MindBodySpirit.fm app like other listeners have. Or you can email Julie, Karen and Meredith at [email protected]  They will answer your question on a future episode so ask away!

RESOURCES mentioned in this episode:

Shelter Animal Reiki Association

Meet the hosts-

Julie Hirt is a Certified Soul Level Animal Communicator®, Certified Heart Animal Soul Professional Communicator, Certified Soul Level Intuitive Coach® and Certified Spirit Animal Sacred Alchemy Practitioner. She writes the column “Trust the Animals” on Substack and is a teaching assistant for the Danielle MacKinnon School. Julie is also the Social Media Director for The Animal Communication Collective®. Find out more about her at her website: https://www.juliehirt-intuitive.com/

Karen Dendy Smith is a Soul Level Animal Communicator®, Soul Level Intuitive Coach®, Pangu Shengong (qigong) Instructor and Energy Healer. She is an End-of-life Companion Animal Doula through the UVM certificate program and a teaching assistant for the Danielle MacKinnon School. She is also on the board of NicaLove Animal Rescue and the Founder and a Director of The Animal Communication Collective®. Find out more about her at her website: https://www.karendendysmith.com/

Meredith Tollison is a Soul Level Animal Communicator®, Soul Level Intuitive Coach®, Let Animals Lead® Animal Reiki Practitioner, and certified dog trainer with a focus on behavior modification and positive reinforcement. She is also a Director of The Animal Communication Collective®. Find out more about her at her website: https://www.meredithtollison.com/

You can also learn more about podcast news, your hosts and upcoming events at https://www.theanimalcommunicationpodcast.com/. And to learn more about the fundraising work Karen, Meredith and Julie do with The Animal Communication Collective, please visit https://www.animalcommunicationcollective.com/.

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 When our animals begin their transition toward The Rainbow Bridge, we can have a lot of questions. And at the same time, we’re never sure where to start. Meredith, Julie and Karen share their experiences of their own animals who have transitioned, as well what the many animals they’ve connected with have shared about this sacred time. 

To ask questions of our hosts, you can use the Open Mic feature in the MindBodySpirit.fm app like other listeners have. Or you can email Julie, Karen and Meredith at [email protected]  They will answer your question on a future episode so ask away!

RESOURCES

Previous Episode on Transitioning: The Animals Perspective 

Book: Being Mortal by Atul Gawande

Book: On Our Best Behavior by Elise Loehnen

Podcast: Pulling The Thread via Apple

Meet the hosts-

Julie Hirt is a Certified Soul Level Animal Communicator®, Certified Heart Animal Soul Professional Communicator, Certified Soul Level Intuitive Coach® and Certified Spirit Animal Sacred Alchemy Practitioner. She writes the column “Trust the Animals” on Substack and is a teaching assistant for the Danielle MacKinnon School. Julie is also the Social Media Director for The Animal Communication Collective®. Find out more about her at her website: https://www.juliehirt-intuitive.com/

Karen Dendy Smith is a Soul Level Animal Communicator®, Soul Level Intuitive Coach®, Pangu Shengong (qigong) Instructor and Energy Healer. She is an End-of-life Companion Animal Doula through the UVM certificate program and a teaching assistant for the Danielle MacKinnon School. She is also on the board of NicaLove Animal Rescue and the Founder and a Director of The Animal Communication Collective®. Find out more about her at her website: https://www.karendendysmith.com/

Meredith Tollison is a Soul Level Animal Communicator®, Soul Level Intuitive Coach®, Let Animals Lead® Animal Reiki Practitioner, and certified dog trainer with a focus on behavior modification and positive reinforcement. She is also a Director of The Animal Communication Collective®. Find out more about her at her website: https://www.meredithtollison.com/

You can also learn more about podcast news, your hosts and upcoming events at https://www.theanimalcommunicationpodcast.com/. And to learn more about the fundraising work Karen, Meredith and Julie do with The Animal Communication Collective, please visit https://www.animalcommunicationcollective.com/.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One of the key things to keep in mind when working with your intuition is Energy Management. Meredith, Julie, and Karen all have different ways to manage their energy which, in turn, raises their vibration so they can connect with animals and learn what all they have to share. In this conversation, the co-hosts discuss their favorite Energy Management techniques and how their use of E.M. has impacted their daily lives.

To ask questions of our hosts, you can use the Open Mic feature in the MindBodySpirit.fm app like other listeners have. Or you can email Julie, Karen and Meredith at [email protected]  They will answer your question on a future episode so ask away!

Meet the hosts-

Julie Hirt is a Certified Soul Level Animal Communicator®, Certified Heart Animal Soul Professional Communicator, Certified Soul Level Intuitive Coach® and Certified Spirit Animal Sacred Alchemy Practitioner. She writes the column “Trust the Animals” on Substack and is a teaching assistant for the Danielle MacKinnon School. Julie is also the Social Media Director for The Animal Communication Collective®. Find out more about her at her website: https://www.juliehirt-intuitive.com/

Karen Dendy Smith is a Soul Level Animal Communicator®, Soul Level Intuitive Coach®, Pangu Shengong (qigong) Instructor and Energy Healer. She is an End-of-life Companion Animal Doula through the UVM certificate program and a teaching assistant for the Danielle MacKinnon School. She is also on the board of NicaLove Animal Rescue and the Founder and a Director of The Animal Communication Collective®. Find out more about her at her website: https://www.karendendysmith.com/

Meredith Tollison is a Soul Level Animal Communicator®, Soul Level Intuitive Coach®, Let Animals Lead® Animal Reiki Practitioner, and certified dog trainer with a focus on behavior modification and positive reinforcement. She is also a Director of The Animal Communication Collective®. Find out more about her at her website: https://www.meredithtollison.com/

You can also learn more about podcast news, your hosts and upcoming events at https://www.theanimalcommunicationpodcast.com/. And to learn more about the fundraising work Karen, Meredith and Julie do with The Animal Communication Collective, please visit https://www.animalcommunicationcollective.com/.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join Julie, Karen and, Meredith as they answer the questions you sent them! In this round of listener questions, Janet asks about Farm Animals and Crystal wants to know how to find a legit animal communicator, as well as some suggestions for certification programs. 

To ask questions of our hosts, you can use the Open Mic feature in the MindBodySpirit.fm app like Janet and Crystal did. Or you can email Julie, Karen and Meredith at [email protected]  They will answer your question on a future episode so ask away!

Meet the hosts-

Julie Hirt is a Certified Soul Level Animal Communicator®, Certified Heart Animal Soul Professional Communicator, Certified Soul Level Intuitive Coach® and Certified Spirit Animal Sacred Alchemy Practitioner. She writes the column “Trust the Animals” on Substack and is a teaching assistant for the Danielle MacKinnon School. Julie is also the Social Media Director for The Animal Communication Collective®. Find out more about her at her website: https://www.juliehirt-intuitive.com/

Karen Dendy Smith is a Soul Level Animal Communicator®, Soul Level Intuitive Coach®, Pangu Shengong (qigong) Instructor and Energy Healer. She is an End-of-life Companion Animal Doula through the UVM certificate program and a teaching assistant for the Danielle MacKinnon School. She is also on the board of NicaLove Animal Rescue and the Founder and a Director of The Animal Communication Collective®. Find out more about her at her website: https://www.karendendysmith.com/

Meredith Tollison is a Soul Level Animal Communicator®, Soul Level Intuitive Coach®, Let Animals Lead® Animal Reiki Practitioner, and certified dog trainer with a focus on behavior modification and positive reinforcement. She is also a Director of The Animal Communication Collective®. Find out more about her at her website: https://www.meredithtollison.com/

You can also learn more about podcast news, your hosts and upcoming events at https://www.theanimalcommunicationpodcast.com/. And to learn more about the fundraising work Karen, Meredith and Julie do with The Animal Communication Collective, please visit https://www.animalcommunicationcollective.com/.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join Meredith, Karen and Julie as they talk with Tessa Cone, an instructor for the Companion Animal End-of-Life Doula Professional Certification program through the University of Vermont. 

Resources:

Learn more about the Company Animal End-of-Life certificate here through the University of Vermont - Continuing Education program

Meet the hosts-

Julie Hirt is a Certified Soul Level Animal Communicator®, Certified Heart Animal Soul Professional Communicator, Certified Soul Level Intuitive Coach® and Certified Spirit Animal Sacred Alchemy Practitioner. She writes the column “Trust the Animals” on Substack and is a teaching assistant for the Danielle MacKinnon School. Julie is also the Social Media Director for The Animal Communication Collective®. Find out more about her at her website: https://www.juliehirt-intuitive.com/

Karen Dendy Smith is a Soul Level Animal Communicator®, Soul Level Intuitive Coach®, Pangu Shengong (qigong) Instructor and Energy Healer. She is an End-of-life Companion Animal Doula through the UVM certificate program and a teaching assistant for the Danielle MacKinnon School. She is also on the board of NicaLove Animal Rescue and the Founder and a Director of The Animal Communication Collective®. Find out more about her at her website: https://www.karendendysmith.com/

Meredith Tollison is a Soul Level Animal Communicator®, Soul Level Intuitive Coach®, Let Animals Lead® Animal Reiki Practitioner, and certified dog trainer with a focus on behavior modification and positive reinforcement. She is also a Director of The Animal Communication Collective®. Find out more about her at her website: https://www.meredithtollison.com/

You can also learn more about podcast news, your hosts and upcoming events at https://www.theanimalcommunicationpodcast.com/. And to learn more about the fundraising work Karen, Meredith and Julie do with The Animal Communication Collective, please visit https://www.animalcommunicationcollective.com/.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join Karen, Julie and Meredith as they talk with Dr. Cara Gubbins, a professional Animal Communicator whose mission and vision is to help co-create a world in which all beings are recognized as equals and all animal lovers are confident animal communicators. She is the best selling author of over a dozen books including Animal Chakras and The Confident Animal Communicator as well as the creator of two card decks that help people connect more deeply with animals (and themselves). She is the founder of the Animal Communicator Academy and the host of the Becoming Dr. Doolittle podcast as well as the annual Animal Communicator and Healer Summit.

Resources:

Dr. Cara’s Website where you can learn more about her, her offerings and all of her books and card decks.

Selected Books:

Divine Beings: The Spiritual LIves and Lessons of Animals

Dolphins of Hilton Head: Their Natural History

Words of Wisdom: What the Owl Knows: How an Owl Inspired Me to Find My Voice, Speak Up, and Take Charge of My Life

Meet the hosts-

Julie Hirt is a Certified Soul Level Animal Communicator®, Certified Heart Animal Soul Professional Communicator, Certified Soul Level Intuitive Coach® and Certified Spirit Animal Sacred Alchemy Practitioner. She writes the column “Trust the Animals” on Substack and is a teaching assistant for the Danielle MacKinnon School. Julie is also the Social Media Director for The Animal Communication Collective®. Find out more about her at her website: https://www.juliehirt-intuitive.com/

Karen Dendy Smith is a Soul Level Animal Communicator®, Soul Level Intuitive Coach®, Pangu Shengong (qigong) Instructor and Energy Healer. She is an End-of-life Companion Animal Doula through the UVM certificate program and a teaching assistant for the Danielle MacKinnon School. She is also on the board of NicaLove Animal Rescue and the Founder and a Director of The Animal Communication Collective®. Find out more about her at her website: https://www.karendendysmith.com/

Meredith Tollison is a Soul Level Animal Communicator®, Soul Level Intuitive Coach®, Let Animals Lead® Animal Reiki Practitioner, and certified dog trainer with a focus on behavior modification and positive reinforcement. She is also a Director of The Animal Communication Collective®. Find out more about her at her website: https://www.meredithtollison.com/

You can also learn more about podcast news, your hosts and upcoming events at https://www.theanimalcommunicationpodcast.com/. And to learn more about the fundraising work Karen, Meredith and Julie do with The Animal Communication Collective, please visit https://www.animalcommunicationcollective.com/.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join Meredith and Karen as they speak with their dear friend and animal communication colleague Phoebe Hoffman about her experience filming “Look Into My Eyes,” a new documentary directed by Lana Wilson. 

Learn more about Phoebe Hoffman

https://phoebehoffman.com/

Read about the documentary on the A24 Website

https://a24films.com/docs/look-into-my-eyes

Watch the Look Into My Eyes Official Trailer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBM7lIMxTe8

Watch Phoebe's interview with ABC News

https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/video/inside-empaths-a24s-new-film-eyes-113444752

Watch Phoebe’s Interview with Christian Digilio

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IB6AzrDYNDw

If you liked the interview with Christian Digilio, follow him on Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/laylathaplaya/

Join the Animal Communication Collective as we raise funds for Puppy Kitty NYC. Check out their website here!

https://www.puppykittynyc.org/

Meet the hosts-

Julie Hirt is a Certified Soul Level Animal Communicator®, Certified Heart Animal Soul Professional Communicator, Certified Soul Level Intuitive Coach® and Certified Spirit Animal Sacred Alchemy Practitioner. She writes the column “Trust the Animals” on Substack and is a teaching assistant for the Danielle MacKinnon School. Julie is also the Social Media Director for The Animal Communication Collective®. Find out more about her at her website: https://www.juliehirt-intuitive.com/

Karen Dendy Smith is a Soul Level Animal Communicator®, Soul Level Intuitive Coach®, Pangu Shengong (qigong) Instructor and Energy Healer. She is an End-of-life Companion Animal Doula through the UVM certificate program and a teaching assistant for the Danielle MacKinnon School. She is also on the board of NicaLove Animal Rescue and the Founder and a Director of The Animal Communication Collective®. Find out more about her at her website: https://www.karendendysmith.com/

Meredith Tollison is a Soul Level Animal Communicator®, Soul Level Intuitive Coach®, Let Animals Lead® Animal Reiki Practitioner, and certified dog trainer with a focus on behavior modification and positive reinforcement. She is also a Director of The Animal Communication Collective®. Find out more about her at her website: https://www.meredithtollison.com/

You can also learn more about podcast news, your hosts and upcoming events at https://www.theanimalcommunicationpodcast.com/. And to learn more about the fundraising work Karen, Meredith and Julie do with The Animal Communication Collective, please visit https://www.animalcommunicationcollective.com/.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join Julie, Karen and Meredith as they take questions from their live audience. It’s an hour of fun, supportive and insightful animal communication readings. 

Meet the hosts-

Julie Hirt is a Certified Soul Level Animal Communicator®, Certified Heart Animal Soul Professional Communicator, Certified Soul Level Intuitive Coach® and Certified Spirit Animal Sacred Alchemy Practitioner. She writes the column “Trust the Animals” on Substack and is a teaching assistant for the Danielle MacKinnon School. Julie is also the Social Media Director for The Animal Communication Collective®. Find out more about her at her website: https://www.juliehirt-intuitive.com/

Karen Dendy Smith is a Soul Level Animal Communicator®, Soul Level Intuitive Coach®, Pangu Shengong (qigong) Instructor and Energy Healer. She is an End-of-life Companion Animal Doula through the UVM certificate program and a teaching assistant for the Danielle MacKinnon School. She is also on the board of NicaLove Animal Rescue and the Founder and a Director of The Animal Communication Collective®. Find out more about her at her website: https://www.karendendysmith.com/

Meredith Tollison is a Soul Level Animal Communicator®, Soul Level Intuitive Coach®, Let Animals Lead® Animal Reiki Practitioner, and certified dog trainer with a focus on behavior modification and positive reinforcement. She is also a Director of The Animal Communication Collective®. Find out more about her at her website: https://www.meredithtollison.com/

You can also learn more about podcast news, your hosts and upcoming events at https://www.theanimalcommunicationpodcast.com/. And to learn more about the fundraising work Karen, Meredith and Julie do with The Animal Communication Collective, please visit https://www.animalcommunicationcollective.com/.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There is a strong code of ethics in any type of vocation and animal communication is no different. With the training Meredith, Julie, and Karen have received, ethics has always been a huge portion of the certification process. This conversation highlights the reasons why ethics in animal communication - and any intuitive work -  are needed, what those ethics are, and what you should keep in mind for when searching for an animal communicator.

Meet the hosts-

Julie Hirt is a Certified Soul Level Animal Communicator®, Certified Heart Animal Soul Professional Communicator, Certified Soul Level Intuitive Coach® and Certified Spirit Animal Sacred Alchemy Practitioner. She writes the column “Trust the Animals” on Substack and is a teaching assistant for the Danielle MacKinnon School. Julie is also the Social Media Director for The Animal Communication Collective®. Find out more about her at her website: https://www.juliehirt-intuitive.com/

Karen Dendy Smith is a Soul Level Animal Communicator®, Soul Level Intuitive Coach®, Pangu Shengong (qigong) Instructor and Energy Healer. She is an End-of-life Companion Animal Doula through the UVM certificate program and a teaching assistant for the Danielle MacKinnon School. She is also on the board of NicaLove Animal Rescue and the Founder and a Director of The Animal Communication Collective®. Find out more about her at her website: https://www.karendendysmith.com/

Meredith Tollison is a Soul Level Animal Communicator®, Soul Level Intuitive Coach®, Let Animals Lead® Animal Reiki Practitioner, and certified dog trainer with a focus on behavior modification and positive reinforcement. She is also a Director of The Animal Communication Collective®. Find out more about her at her website: https://www.meredithtollison.com/

You can also learn more about podcast news, your hosts and upcoming events at https://www.theanimalcommunicationpodcast.com/. And to learn more about the fundraising work Karen, Meredith and Julie do with The Animal Communication Collective, please visit https://www.animalcommunicationcollective.com/.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices